Handle for umbrella

ABSTRACT

A handle for an umbrella and particularly a flat umbrella, wherein the handle has a shape of a rhomboid with the greatest dimension of the rhomboid parallel to the axis of the umbrella stick and a projection is provided extending from the bottom wall portion of the handle beyond the bottom corner of the handle subtending the obtuse angle.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,759,278

Hoifmann 1 Sept. 18, 1973 [541 HANDLE FOR UMBRELLA D2l9,086 10/1970 Weber .1 DEB/3 A 3,217,723 11/1965 Such 135/20 R 1751 lnvenw" Emma, Essen, Germany 2,502,984 4/1950 Parmzanter 135/20 R [73] Assigneez Telem Bmphey Limited, Montreal, Dl53,264 4/1949 ghudnoffm D88/4 Quebec Canada 354,027 12/1886 telnmetz 135/44 [22] Filed: Sept. 7, 1972 Przmary ExammerMerv1n Stem PP 286,917 Assistant Examiner-Alex Grosz AttorneyAlan Swabey et a1. [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 8 1971 ..P2l46 721.0 Sept 1 Germany [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 135/46 M, 135/20 R,D18385/34"7A, A handle for an umbrella and particularly a flat 51 I Cl A45!) 02 brella, wherein the handle has a shape of a rhomboid l M with the greatest dimension of the rhomboid parallel to 1 0 A 14 the axis of the umbrella stick and a projection is provided extending from the bottom wall portion of the handle beyond the bottom corner of the handle sub- [56] References Clted tending the obtuse angle.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,367,673 2/1968 Covini D34/l4 D 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIED sin a ma SHEEI 1 0F 2 FIG. 2

PATENTED SEP I 8M3 sum a of 2 Has HANDLE FOR UMBRELLA BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to umbrellas, and more particularly to a handle for a type of umbrella which assumes a flat rectangular shape when collapsed.

2. Description of Prior Art Umbrellas of this type, which are known generally as flat umbrellas, include handles which must be adapted to a shape no greater than the greatest width of the folded collapsed umbrella and must take up the least possible axial length so as not to increase the overall axial length of the umbrella. Therefore, the umbrella must be relatively narrow in width. To date, handles having a rectangular shape or trapezoidal shape have been developed. It has been found in practice, however, that umbrella handles of this type present poor gripping features. Depending upon the position of the handle in the users hand, a gust of wind for instance could pull the umbrella from the users hand or at least displace it from its preferred position.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an aim of the present invention to provide an umbrella handle which is designed to present a good grip, yet is within the dimensional limitations of a flat umbrella.

A construction in accordance with the present inven tion includes a handle adapted to be connected to an umbrella stick, the handle being of rhomboidal shape with the greatest dimension of the handle being parallel to the umbrella stick and including a top surface and a bottom surface perpendicular to the stick, a pair of opposed side surfaces parallel to the umbrella stick and a pair of opposed end surfaces extending at an acute angle to the stick and having with the top and bottom surfaces the general outline of a rhomboid, a rearward corner between the bottom and one of the end surfaces subtending an acute angle in the forward corner between the other end wall and the bottom surface subtending an obtuse angle, a projection extending along the bottom portion of the handle forward of the handle with at least one surface coplanar to the bottom surface and extending beyond the corner subtending the obtuse angle and defining with the forward end wall a gripping shoulder.

The shape of the umbrella handle as especially used on collapsible flat umbrellas is naturally gripped by the users hand with the ball of the users thumb on the rearward end wall, while some fingers of the users hand grip about the forward end wall above the projection, particularly at the shoulder so formed. The remaining fingers lie below the projection. The projection, thus, always enters a gap between the fingers adjacent thereto. Preferably, the handle is gripped such that v lapsed and stored in its sheath, there are no parts projecting beyond the cross-sectional shape of the sheath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof; and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the handle;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged axial cross section of the handle; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the handle showing the users hand in dotted lines about the handle.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The umbrella handle 1 is adapted to be fixed to the end of an umbrella stick, preferably of a flat umbrella having a stick 2. The handle 1 has the general appearance of a boot. This outline is provided by the rhomboidal shape of the handle when looking at it from the side, with a projection 5 extending from the forward end 4 of the handle.

The handle includes a bottom wall 6, a top surface 11, side walls 3 and end walls 4 and 9. The bottom wall 6 and top wall 11 are perpendicular to the stick 2, while the side walls 3 are parallel to each other and to the umbrella stick. However, the end walls 4 and 9 are at an acute angle to the umbrella stick. A projection 5 extends forwardly of the handle beyond the wall 4 particularly at the corner of the rhomboid at the bottom thereof which subtends an obtuse angle. The projection has a bottom surface 5 coplanar with the bottom surface 6 and has a nose 5" and a sloped wall forming a shoulder 5". Gripping area K is formed between the shoulder 5" and the angled end wall 4. A bore 7 is provided near the bottom of the handle and tightly receives the end of the umbrella stick 2. A pin 8 can be pierced through the handle transversely of the stick to anchor the handle to the stick. The recess 7 communicates with an enlarged recess 13 having dimensions such as to receive the runner l2.

Finally, a loop 10 is integrally molded with the handle 1 so as to provide means for anchoring a strap.

I claim:

1. A handle for an umbrella adapted to be connected to an umbrella stick, the handle being of rhomboidal shape with the greatest dimension of the handle being parallel to the umbrella stick and including a top surface and a bottom surface perpendicular to the stick, a pair of opposed side surfaces parallel to the umbrella stick and a pair of opposed end surfaces extending at an acute angle to the stick and having with the top and bottom surfaces the general outline of a rhomboid, a rearward corner between the bottom and one of the end surfaces subtending an acute angle and the forward corner between the other end wall and the bottom surface subtending an obtuse angle, a projection extending along the bottom portion of the handle forward of the handle with at least one surface coplanar to the bottom surface and extending beyond the comer subtending the obtuse angle and defining with the forward end wall a gripping shoulder. 

1. A handle for an umbrella adapted to be connected to an umbrella stick, the handle being of rhomboidal shape with the greatest dimension of the handle being parallel to the umbrella stick and including a top surface and a bottom surface perpendicular to the stick, a pair of opposed side surfaces parallel to the umbrella stick and a pair of opposed end surfaces extending at an acute angle to the stick and having with the top and bottom surfaces the general outline of a rhomboid, a rearward corner between the bottom and one of the end surfaces subtending an acute angle and the forward corner between the other end wall and the bottom surface subtending an obtuse angle, a projection extending along the bottom portion of the handle forward of the handle with at least one surface coplanar to the bottom surface and extending beyond the corner subtending the obtuse angle and defining with the forward end wall a gripping shoulder. 